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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Unknown [Seated portrait of Thomas Edison]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07616.04 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: s.l. Type: Photograph signed Date: circa 1889 Pagination: 1 albumen : b&w ; 61.8 x 47.7 cm. Order a Copy

Seated portrait of Edison in one of his characteristic poses. His left arm rests on the arm of the chair, while his right is propped on a nearby table, with his hand pressed against his temple. Ink inscription on mount reads, "To my friend Simpkin, Thomas A Edison." William Simpkin was the chief engineer of the Standard Construction Corp., Ltd., and a frequent correspondent of Edison's.

Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847-1931
Simpkin, William, fl. 1889

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